Chocolate Sugar Cookies Recipe With Gift Wrapping
Emily Kate Roemer (food styling by Christine Albano)
Recipe by Food Network Magazine
Time: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Makes: about 36 cookies
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cooking spray
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons meringue powder
Coarse sugar, for decorating
Instructions
1. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract; beat until creamy, about 2 more minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture, and beat until just incorporated, about 2 more minutes.
3. Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; form into disks. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
4. Roll out the dough between floured sheets of parchment paper until about 1/4 inch thick. Chill 2 more hours.
5. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350˚F. Mist 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Cut the dough into circles with a 2-inch-diameter cookie cutter; gather the scraps and reroll once to cut out more cookies. Arrange 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until cookies are set, about 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
6. Make the icing: Beat the confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and 3 to 4 tablespoons water in a bowl with a mixer on high speed until smooth and thick. Transfer to a resealable bag, and snip a small corner. Pipe a snowflake onto each cookie; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Let set 30 minutes.
Gift-Wrapping Instructions
Emily Kate Roemer (food styling by Christine Albano)
1. Punch a gift tag out of kraft cardstock, then punch a hole at the top.
2. Use a pouncer to coat a snowflake stamp with white crafts paint. Stamp in the middle of the gift tag. Let dry.
3. Stack cookies in a cellophane bag, and tie the gift tag around the bag with ribbon. Tie two pieces of extra-thick yarn into a big bow over the ribbon. Place the bag inside the mug.
